(Lovely's POV.)
.
I look at the ceiling of my room, remembering how I accidentally snapped Juwan's spoon yesterday. I was expecting him to be mad but he just smiled and patted me like usual.
I'm a big idiot.
I'm the one who told him to wait for my response but here I am, feeling jealous just because Sonaia give him lunch. Haaa, I'm really a big idiot! A dummy!
"Lovely-- Lovely!"
Suddenly, soft paws grabbed my face.
"Are you listening to me?"
"Eh-- ah.."
"Haa... so you weren't listening at all."
"... Sorry Pomfy."
Pomfy sighs, she sat infront of me.
"I'll repeat it from the start. There's a big chance of a warp opening. The name of the warp is Bloodhunt." She said as she stares at me, making sure that I'm listening.
"Bloodhunt?" I asked her as she moved slightly closer.
"There's also a big chance that a black card user might appear there." Pomfy said as I flinched.
A black card user.
I've only encountered two of them but both of them were incredibly powerful. I looked at my hand as I remembered the pain I felt when fighting them.
I remembered the sight of Juwan getting... No, what's important is that he's okay and doesn't remember what happened.
If there's a chance that a black card user might pop out of there, then I have to become stronger.
"...Are there any other warps that might open?" I asked Pomfy as she looks at me.
"There are." Pomfy said as she smiles. She raised her palm, as something popped out.
It's a thingy from games, the one that shows your stuffs.
"You're close to levelling up anyways... I guess it's better to let you handle multiple warps."
She's probably worried since she wasn't able to join me this past week due to her recovering from her injuries... especially since I'm new to this.
"Don't worry! I can handle it! Besides, the game thingy said that I can get a new skill when I level up so there's also that." I told her as she giggles.
"It's called a status window, not a game thingy." Pomfy said as she closes the status thingy.
I stood up slowly, taking my time as Pomfy just watch. I packed my stuffs, preparing to go to school.
"I won't be accompanying you." Pomfy suddenly said.
"What!? But--!"
"The risk is too big Lovely, unlike in your room where I placed a concealment spell, if I go anywhere else then my magic will stand out too much." Pomfy said as she rests her head.
"And considering what you told me before, two black card users might target you and your school if they sense my magic." She continues.
I want to protest, I want to just say that I'll be able to handle it.
But I'm scared.
What she said make a lot of sense, if she gets detected by them, the both of us-- no, the whole school will be in danger.
And I can't even beat one of them so if two of them appears then...
Suddenly, memories of Juwan getting impaled by one of them flashed on my mind.
"Lovely?"
"Y-you're right." I told her as she smiles.
"Don't worry, I'll send you the location of the warps to your staff." Pomfy said as I wore my uniform.
I grabbed my bag, checking my phone as I went to the door.
"Then, I'll head out." I told her as I leave the room.
She waves back as I gently close the door.
.
.
I arrived at the school, walking up the stairs while I think of how I'd deal with the upcoming warps. I can manage the other warps, I think... but the bloodhunt one is where the black card holder will appear right?
But Pomfy didn't specify the day it might appear.
What if it appears in the middle of the day when class is ongoing? How will I handle it? I--
"Well you're in a deep thought."
This voice! I turned around as fast as I can to see the person who called out to me.
"Morning."
Hehehe! It's Juwan!
"G-Good morning!" I greeted him back as he smiles.
He take one look at me and sighs, his hand landing on my head. He keeps rustling my hair even when we walked up the stairs.
"You look like you haven't had enough sleep." Juwan said as we keep walking down the hallway, reaching our classroom.
"Well... kinda, I did sleep but I kept waking up." I told him as he follows me to my seat, grabbing an empty chair to sit beside me.
"That's not a kinda, that's just a full on yes." He said while chuckling.
He scooches closer to me, our seat basically touching. He pats his shoulder twice as he looks at me. Seriously, I feel like he knows me a bit too much.
I rest my head on his shoulder, wrapping my arms around him and using his fluffy jacket as a pillow.
Despite how fluffy his jacket is, I can still feel how tough his body is. Suddenly, the memories of when I checked his body for injuries popped up in my head.
I can't help but tighten my hug a bit more, nuzzling on his shoulder. H-he wouldn't notice that I'm trying to check how muscular he is with a hug... right?
W-woah, his body is really tough... but his jacket is making it feel a bit softer so it's like-- so comfortable to touch.
Zip.
Eh?
I looked up at him as I see him unzipping his jacket. Our eyes meet as he grins.
"Perv." He uttered with a smug grin.
I've been caught!
"I--I! N-No! I was just--! Umm! Y-you're misunderstanding it-- I-- I was really just--"
Suddenly, he grabbed my hand...and put it inside his jacket--!
"I don't mind." He said as he placed my hand on his torso. W-woah, his abs are so toned--.
No wait! This is crazy! He's crazy! I should remove my hand cuz this is just--!
Yes! Remove my hand!
Just... remove it..
.
.
I didn't remove my hand...
I fell asleep, even drooling on his shoulder while hugging him underneath his jacket... Just kill me.
I pushed myself away from him slowly, wiping my drool sneakily.
"Pftt-- Goodmorning." He told me while it's obvious that he's trying not to laugh.
He definitely saw me wiping it off.
"...Morning." I uttered as I fix my glasses.
Juwan zipped up his jacket, I looked around and saw that there's not that much people in the room. I checked my phone and saw that there's still some time left before class.
"Morning." I suddenly heard from behind us.
It was Sonaia. She walked towards us, yawning as she uses the backrest of Juwan's seat to lean on. Her hands slightly grazing Juwan's back.
"Sup shorty." Juwan casually asked her.
She hits him gently in the head as if to retaliate for being called a shorty, then suddenly she started caressing his hair.
Why is she patting him?
"Morning Vely." Sonaia suddenly greeted me.
"A-ah! Morning!" I said, smiling at her as she smiles back.
"Did you guys see the issue on Z? Apparently Farlor--."
"Don't know that guy." Juwan said to Sonaia.
"He's a Celebrity. Anyways--." Sonaia explained.
"I dunno about celebs though." Juwan cuts her off again.
"Just let me share the tea, you bastard!" Sonaia said as Juwan laughs, her hands basically grabbing his hair tightly and shaking him.
Why is her hand still on his hair?
Why is her hand still on his hair?
Why is her hand still on his hair?
Why is her hand still--?
"...Eh?"
I uttered as I felt Juwan's hand gently grasping mine as I cling to his arm. I didn't even realize that I wrapped my arm around his.
He smiled at me, gently rubbing my fingers as if to calm me down before he continues to chat with Sonaia. Seriously, what's wrong with me.
I took a deep breath, smiling back at him before looking at Sonaia to listen to what she's talking about.
.
"...Wait seriously?!" Juwan said, completely immersed with what Sonaia was talking about.
"Right?? And apparently, the wife also had an affair with the same guy!" Sonaia continued.
"T-Then is it just considered as a love triangle?" I joined in as I also got immersed with Sonaia's gossip.
As we continue to talk, I heard someone walking towards us. It was Cedric, with the same slightly messy jacket and his usual happy tone.
"Good morning!" He greeted us.
He looked at us as he stopped for a moment. After a few second, he smiled at us again and grabbed an empty seat.
"Sup." Juwan greeted back with a smile as he face toward Ced's direction.
"Bro I forgot how hard last year's math was." Cedric uttered as he rests his head on my desk.
"Last year's math?" I asked him as he smiles.
"Well, Iori kept asking me to help her study." Cedric said as he pushed himself up on my desk.
Iori?
"Seriously, that junior asked you to help them? Do they not know how 'amazing' your grades are?" Sonaia said snarkily as Ced snickers.
"Huh, didn't know you have a friend that's a junior." Juwan said.
So did I! This is kinda surprising.
"Ofcourse I'd have friends that are juniors! I'm quite an amazing senior after all." Cedric said as he playfully acts like a dummy.
"Right, right, sure. Juwan, can you come with me for a bit?" Sonaia said sarcastically to Cedric before her attention went to Juwan.
"Huh? Don't wanna-- OW OW OW YOU--!" Juwan said as he was dragged out of the seat by his ear.
I looked at my arms, I should've held him tighter. I watch as Sonaia dragged Juwan out of the classroom.
"Seriously, those two really fit each other." I heard Cedric said.
"Huh?"
"They fight a lot but they still stick to each other, like during lunch or when we just sit around and chat." He said as I felt my chest slightly tighten.
Suddenly, my phone buzzed. I pulled it out and checked as I see a notification of someone chatting me.
"I'll distract Juwan for a bit! Go have some fun alone time with Cedric~" it was Sonaia that chatted me, her message was full of emojis as well.
I felt myself smile as the pain in my chest slightly lessen. I know she's trying to be considerate but she didn't have to do this, seriously.
"Anyways, it must be nice to have a big teddy bear like him." Cedric suddenly said as he stretches.
"Hmm? What do you mean?" I asked as I put my phone back in my bag.
"Juwan. Since he's on the chubby side, he's probably fun to hug since he's fluffy, like a teddy bear." He said as he looks at me.
"Juwan? Chubby?"
"Yeah."
"??"
"??"
D-does he not know? Should I tell him?
"I-I... I might not be as huggable as him but... if you want..."
"Hmm?" I looked at Cedric, tilting my head slightly.
"You can also hug me... O-Only if you want, ofcourse!" Cedric said as I noticed his ear turn a shade of red.
There's really a chance that he likes me too huh. This is great since I might have a chance if I properly confessed.
But...
Suddenly, I heard Juwan's voice just outside the room.
"Haa! Seriously, that woman! Dragging me to her class just to make me talk to her classmates." Juwan said as he enters, walking towards me.
I felt a smile form on my face as I gently grab the chair beside me and pull it closer to mine, tilting it slightly so he can immediately sit down.
"Are you okay?" I asked him, still smiling, as he sits down, placing his forehead on my shoulder.
"That shorty knows that I'm bad with socializing with people I don't know, then decided to bring me inside her classroom where I don't know anyone except her and Vivi!" He ranted, making me giggle wirh the way he's telling it.
"There there, poor Juwan." I said, rustling his hair as he acts like a big baby.
"Huhu, she's so mean~." Juwan said as he looks up at me, keeping up the act as I laugh.
Suddenly the bell rings, signalling the start of class as I see Cedric go back to his seat. Juwan, on the other hand, just brought back the seat to the desk beside me and didn't leave.
"H-hey, you should go back to your seat dummy." I told him, trying to hide my smile.
"If Gwen shows up then I'd leave." He said, mentioning our classmate who originally sits beside me.
"What if she doesn't show up?" I asked him, stifling my laugh.
"Then you're stuck with me." He said confidently as I let out a chuckle.
"Mhmm okay then." I told him.
We continue to chat while waiting if our classmate show up.
Thankfully, she didn't.
.
.
Time flies by fast as the last class for today ended 30 minutes early.
I was walking back to the classroom after going to the restroom when I was suddenly stopped by a teacher.
"Ah Aerin! Perfect timing!" The teacher said, holding a pile of papers.
"Ma'am?" I asked her, wondering why she called out to me.
"Can you bring these to the club building? Room 502!" She said, giving the papers to me as I instinctively take it.
"Eh? But--!"
"Thankies!" The teacher said as she immediately went to the faculty room, leaving the papers to me.
But I didn't even agreed to it... haa.
I started walking down the hallway as I held the paper firmly. The other sections are still in the middle of their lectures, making me the only one here.
So who's footsteps are the ones behind me?
"What are you doing?" I heard Juwan's voice behind me, making me instantly calm.
"Have to bring these to the club building." I told him as I show him the papers I was holding.
"How about you? What are you doing?" I asked him as he picks up the pace, walking beside me.
"Stalking you." Juwan said with a smug smile.
"Dummy, it's not stalking if you told the person you're stalking that you're stalking them." I told him as he we both laugh.
"That's too many stalking in just one sentence." He said as we both walk down the stairs.
"Still though, why did you follow me?" I asked him again as we keep walking, reaching the second floor.
"Because I was curious. Now that you told me the reason, then it's better for me to accompany you." Juwan said, gently grabbing me when I almost slipped.
"Thanks-- but why though?" I asked him as we reached the first floor.
"A teacher giving you papers to bring in the club building? All by yourself? It's a plot for romance." He said as we started to walk towards the club building.
"A plot for romance-- pftt hahahaha!" I can't help but laugh at his logic. Seriously, a plot for romance?!
"What! It's an obvious plot device! And I ain't letting this world just suddenly throw you into a romance bit with someone else!" Juwan said as my stomach started to hurt from laughing!
We reached the club building. The both of us entered as we started to walk up the stairs. Juwan was looking around, staying close to me.
We reached the 5th floor.
"Ah here it is, room 502. Stay here for a bit, I'll just place it on the desk." I said as I opened the room.
"You sure?" He asked as he obediently waits outside.
"I'm sure, it'll be quick." I said as I close the door out of instinct.
I walk towards the desk, putting the papers on top of it. I looked around and notice how cozy the place is since there's not much stuffs inside the room.
When suddenly I noticed a figure in the corner of the room.
"Hmm? Who the hell's-- Pinkhead?"
It was Xavier.
He smirked, standing up as he walks towards me. I started to walk towards the door but he suddenly ran towards me, surprising me as he basically pins me on the board.
"So, what are you doing here, pink?" He asked, his voice low as his eyes look down at me.
"None of your business." I replied as I try to leave, going under his arm but he just moved it.
"Considering that this place is my sleeping spot, I should know why, no?" He said, leaning closer.
"...I'm just dropping club papers." I said, not really wanting to continue talking to him.
"Club? What, you joining? Because if yes, then you have to tell me your name."
"Not at all, no." I replied to him, glaring at him as he just smirked.
"Wow, instant rejection? You're making me sad." He said, not letting me go.
"Can you move your hand now?" I asked as he just chuckled.
"If you tell me your name, I'll think about it." This guy's attitude is so-- arghh!
I sighed, I dont want to deal with this anymore so I should just tell him.
"It's--."
"Fucking--! I knew it!" I suddenly heard from beside us as Xavier's arm got swatted and I got pulled away from him.
"Tsk-- it's you again, you fucking fatso." Xavier said as I felt my face land on a fluffy jacket.
"Juwan..?" I uttered as I felt his grip on my shoulder, almost as if he's hugging me.
"Told you it's a romance plot." He said, smiling at me before looking back at Xavier who looked pissed.
Juwan's eyes suddenly looked dangerous, his smile didn't fade but it feels more ominous. Xavier scoffs after looking at the both of us.
"Hah, having fun acting like a hero again?" Xavier said, looking down at Juwan.
Juwan chuckled.
"I don't need to be a hero to deal with a pest." He said, looking directly at Xavier's eyes.